Mia Sirois put herself into elite competition with her performance at the U20 Championships
Illinois kids were competing in national championship competitions on two coasts simultaneously. One was in Philadelphia at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, and the other was in Eugene, Oregon, at the USATF U20 Championships.
We start the slate with Barrington, IL, rising senior Mia Sirois, who became the first Illinois distance girl to win a USATF 5000m track title. On the campus of the University of Oregon at the newly but venerable Hayward Field, Sirois played her position and stayed in the second-place cut for the majority of the race. She hit the first kilometer in 3:11.92 and was on track to break her personal best at 3K (9:37.47).
Sirois continued a steady diet of 76-second laps for the next three circuits, finally taking over the lead just before the 4K mark. She would coast home unopposed with a final lap of 1:10, running 15:46.74, and earn the automatic bid to the World U20 Championship, held at Hayward Field, Aug 5-9. Sirois will head to Philly to compete in the NBNO.
Isaiah Whitaker punches his ticket to the World Championship after an impressive second-place finish in the boys' pole vault competition. The recent graduate from Bloomington Central Catholic HS started his journey at 17'5.5", clearing the height on his first attempt. He passed on the next two of three heights, clearing 17'11.25" and then skipping 18'1.25" for 18'3.25".Had he cleared the height, he would have won the competition, set an all-time IL mark, and put himself at US#1 and among the super-elite competitors in the event's history.
Mia Sirois put herself into elite competition with her performance at the U20 Championships
Illinois kids were competing in national championship competitions on two coasts simultaneously. One was in Philadelphia at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, and the other was in Eugene, Oregon, at the USATF U20 Championships.
We start the slate with Barrington, IL, rising senior Mia Sirois, who became the first Illinois distance girl to win a USATF 5000m track title. On the campus of the University of Oregon at the newly but venerable Hayward Field, Sirois played her position and stayed in the second-place cut for the majority of the race. She hit the first kilometer in 3:11.92 and was on track to break her personal best at 3K (9:37.47).
Mia Sirois put herself into elite competition with her performance at the U20 Championships